Latics to donate ticket money to Amelia

Greg Farrimond

WIGAN Athletic have announced that under-18s ticket money from the game against Blackpool will be donated to terminally ill youngster Amelia Morris.

It’s expected that this Christmas will be the two-year-old’s last, such is the severity of the rare genetic disorder Tay Sachs disease from which she suffers.

Amelia’s parents, Whitney and Jonathan, are hoping to raise money to give their daughter the perfect Christmas.

They plan to decorate their Beech Hill home into a grotto for her, and her one-year-old sister, Emily.

Tay-Sachs disease is a rare inherited disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord – and is not expected to survive much longer after Christmas.

So far, Martland Park-based Festive Lights have invited the family to visit their site to choose some lights and firefighters on red watch at Wigan Fire Service have volunteered to use their time and ladders to put the lights up.

Not only will the family be in attendance at next Tuesday’s game as personal guests of David Sharpe, but the chairman wants to make sure that every pound the club receive for under-18 supporters will go to Amelia’s fund.

After reading about Amelia’s campaign in the Evening Post, Latics chairman David Sharpe was desperate to help.

“I read about Amelia’s story in the press and like everyone was moved by it,” he said. “The family live less than a mile from the DW Stadium, so it seems the right thing to do to help someone in our local community who is undergoing such a tough time. It’s the least we can do.”

With prices at just £5 for adults and £1 for Under 18s, plus the fact it kicks off at 7.15pm, the club are hoping that families and younger fans come to support the team on its latest cup quest.

Sharpe said: “Hopefully, when the fans see that their money will be going to such a worthy cause, they will come along to support the team, but more importantly to support Amelia and her family. It’s the least we can do, hopefully we can the family the Christmas they deserve.”

The CATS Foundation (Cure & Action for Tay-Sachs) have been in touch with the family providing care and support.